I read Mark Lamster’s quick take on the (from my perspective) real estate travesty that is being discussed right now, that being Trammell Crow’s ridic decision to plop a big box Sam’s Wholesale Club in a new development grazing the east side of Central Expressway, across from Uptown. Mark cleverly calls his post: How To Kill a City: Death by Clubbing.
I disagree! Not with his premise — that the decision to put a Sam’s Wholesale Club here is just incongruent:
“A massive big box retailer is precisely what this area between high-density, and pedestrian friendly Uptown and historic East Dallas does not need. Given the explosive population growth and desirability of these neighborhoods, and the proximity to DART, mixed-use development would be logical.”
I disagree with his dislike of clubs. I LOVE clubs and wonder why we don’t have more in (downtown) Dallas. I’m talking of University-type clubs, such as the Yale Club in mid-town Manhattan (it’s really the Dartmouth Club too, it’s better half), the University Club, Columbia Club. Why doesn’t SMU have a club here? U.T? A&M? Rice? Exclusive clubs are hot in Manhattan, and they are proliferating in San Francisco, where my personal favorite is The Olympic Club.
“San Francisco’s growing prosperity and rise of a newly minted nouveau riche has set the table for a fresh batch of private clubs — ones that offer luxurious amenities, posh event spaces and just enough exclusivity to make members feel special without discriminating based on gender, race or income level.”
In San Francisco, there are 20-year waiting lists at the Bohemian Club and Pacific Union Club. People love these clubs because it gives them a place to hang with like-minded people, or meet new people, and it expands their social network even in the age of social media. How about a SoHo House in Dallas? There’s one in New York, Chicago, Toronto, West Hollywood and Miami.
So yes Mark, you are right about how wrong this project is, but I really like clubs. I’d like to see a few more in Dallas. Luke Crosland has one planned for Highland House in Preston Center. We need a few more downtown. Then we can go clubbing, and I can forget about the dumbing.
